The schedule for training sessions in the use of instructional/classroom technology (including Blackboard) is available online. For additional information, including other arrangements for such training (e.g. to departments or to other groups of instructors), please or see below.

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Instructional Technology at Baruch College is managed by the Instructional Technology Unit of the Baruch Computing and Technology Center (BCTC).

Definition

Instructional Technology is made up of three units: Course Management (technology-assisted course management, learning, and assessment.), Media Resources (Instructional Media, Video Services, and Special Event Media) and Web Development.

Mission

Together, Instructional Technology works with faculty to advance, facilitate, and enhance teaching and learning through appropriate integration of technology with teaching. This partnership includes, but is not limited to, empowering faculty through training, development of new and existing teaching tools and management of the instructional technology infrastructure. The area’s direct and indirect services support the overall teaching and learning goals of the college.

Goal

To deliver successful learning solutions in partnership with faculty by understanding their needs and exceeding their expectations. Members of Instructional Technology will achieve this goal through professionalism, expertise, teamwork and continuous self-assessment.

This brief overview identifies the learning technologies available to faculty at Baruch College. Some faculty may require greater support in developing their own personal teaching style with technology. Those faculty members should contact our Instructional Designer, Kevin Wolff, through the Help Desk at (646) 312-1010 or through email at kevin.wolff@baruch.cuny.edu.

Training Sessions on Instructional Technologies

Several options exist for training with Instructional Technologies at Baruch. Training sessions may also be hosted by a department or group of faculty members by contacting Kevin Wolff, as above.

Equipment in Newman Vertical Campus Classrooms

• Windows 7 computer, equipped with: a DVD/CD Player, Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, et cetera), VLC Media Player (for playing audio/video), Skype, WebEx, GoToMeeting, and Blackboard Collaborate (for teleconferencing options)
• Digital Projector
• Projection Screen
• Document Camera
• Laptop and Mobile Device Connections via VGA and HDMI
• Auxiliary video and audio in and out
• Microphones
• Telephones (in-house only; BCTC and Security numbers are posted)

Media Resources Inquiries

If you have any questions about the equipment provided by Media Resources, or an issue with equipment in classrooms, you can contact them through the BCTC Help Desk at (646) 312-1010.

If you would like to reserve services from Media Resources, such as on-site assistance from A/V technicians or video services at an event, please fill out the Media Resources request form on this website

Instructional Technology on the Internet

Blackboard

Blackboard is an online course management system which provides off-campus access to course materials, assignments, and class discussions. It allows instructors to create, deliver, and manage web-based educational technology. It can be used to add online elements to a traditional course, or to develop completely online courses with few or no face-to-face meetings. The BCTC Blackboard web page has up-to-date news and information.

Baruch College has been using Blackboard since September 1999. The current version is 9.1 Service Pack 13. It has many features, including:

• course announcements
• personalized course calendars
• threaded discussion, live chat, and online whiteboard
• online quizzes and surveys, with automated grading and statistics
• course assignment and documents areas
• course-related external links
• online file sharing
• timed release of quizzes and other course materials
• student rosters, e-mail, and online gradebook
• group project areas
• Collaborate, a tool for live web conferencing and pre-recorded online lectures

Blackboard course pages are easy to create. Instructors use built-in templates to create announcements, quizzes, and external links. Other course materials can be created in a similar fashion, or can be written using any software you choose, and then uploaded into the Blackboard course site.

To learn more or for help understanding and navigating Blackboard, please visit BCTC’s Instructional Technology Resources and Information for Faculty web page

Please note: Each semester, your courses will be unavailable to your students by default. Once you have added your course content on Blackboard, you will need to make your courses available before your students will see the content. To do so, follow these instructions:

1. On your Blackboard site, go to “Control Panel” (on the left)
2. In the lower left, click on “Customization”
3. Click on “Properties”
4. Scroll down to Item 3: “Set Availability”, then click on “Yes”
5. Click “Submit”
6. Students now will be able to gain access to the course’s Blackboard site.

Individual Web Sites

Faculty may request web server space on Baruch’s Faculty Server. The server is a Microsoft IIS system intended to host simple web pages and allow for moderate web development. Most faculty members will find Blackboard more convenient for instructional purposes. If you would like to create an account on this server, contact Patrick Ackerman, Campus Web Administrator, at 646-312-1065 for more information.

Video Services

Faculty may request a consumer camcorder package for videotaping in class. Projects that require post production, such as editing and uploading to Baruch College’s Digital Media Library, must be planned three weeks prior to the start of semester.

The camcorder package consists of the following:

1. Canon Vixia HFR400 camcorder

2. Camera battery

3. Battery charger/AC adapter

4. USB to mini-USB cable

5. Tripod

6. One (1) 64GB SDXC card (recording time approx 5hrs.)

Note: BCTC will not be responsible for loss of media due to memory card damage or misuse. It is advised that faculty supply their own media cards for recording.

Recording for the Digital Media Library

Faculty may request video recording of special events for Baruch College’s Digital Media Library. Consent forms are required from all persons speaking in front of the camera before posting to the DML. Please note that this includes students and CUNY employees. Consent forms must be received no fewer than two business days in advance of the event. To download a copy of the consent form, click here.

BCTC may provide staff to record an event for a fee of $65 per hour with a four-hour minimum. This includes the time needed for processing the video and posting to the Digital Media Library. To staff an event, BCTC requires a minimum of 10 business days from the time a request is submitted. The fee is billed to your department’s account.

BCTC may edit pre-recorded video or audio, not directly related to classroom work, for a fee of $65 per hour. The fee includes posting the media to the Digital Media Library.  The fee is billed to your department’s account.

BCTC offers the loan of a camcorder for recording events to be posted on the DML. Consent forms are required from all persons speaking in front of the camera before posting to the DML. Please note that this includes students and CUNY employees. Consent forms must be received no fewer than two business days in advance of the event.

Submitting Media to the Digital Media Library

Baruch departments and faculty are encouraged to submit media to the Digital Media Library. If you have media you would like to share, such as a video or audio recording of an event or lecture, we will convert the material to a digital format, catalog it, and post it to the DML.

Prior to submitting your request, please review the Interactive Guide to Using Copyrighted Media in Your Courses. Once you have done so, complete the Baruch Digital Media Library Submission Form and deliver the media to the Instructional Technology Department on the 6th floor of the Information and Technology Building. Once we receive the media, we will take care of the conversion and send it to the library for cataloging.

For copies, reformatting media, or authoring DVDs, please use the online form at http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/bctc/media/order.html Bring the media to the Help Desk, labelled with the ticket number from the form.

For more Video Services information, contact the Help Desk at (646) 312-1010 and ask for Stella Varveris.